Chapter 74: But I Was Here First

"Not a biological sister…"

"Then what other kind of sister could she be?"

Ye Xinglan clearly didn't see anything wrong with this statement, her face blank with confusion as she stepped aside, her small features etched with contemplation.

Not related by blood, but still a sister—what was the issue?

"I really didn't expect…"

"The boss's sister is actually a member of Shrek Academy. That kind of talent is just too incredible."

Beside them, the members of Zero Class couldn't hide their admiration. Being directly admitted to Shrek wasn't something just anyone could achieve.

Without extraordinary talent, it was unthinkable. The sister of their boss, Luo Chuan, must be far above them—even if she was slightly inferior to the boss himself, the gap couldn't be that big.

"…"

Only Tang Wulin, standing to the side, opened his mouth but said nothing.

He remembered that when Na'er was six, she had failed to awaken a Martial Soul at the Spirit Transfer Pagoda. How long had it been since then? Now, she had transformed into a student of Shrek Academy?

"Of course Na'er is amazing."

"She's the personal disciple of the Pavilion Master. In the future, she'll undoubtedly become one of the continent's most elite powerhouses."

Ye Xinglan smiled faintly as she spoke.

"The Pavilion Master…"

Hearing this title, the others clearly didn't know much about it, assuming it was just a senior from Shrek.

Only Xu Xiaoyan seemed to realize something, her eyes widening in shock.

"And…"

"The cultivation talent of you siblings is truly top-tier, worthy of being called brother and sister."

Ye Xinglan looked at the two strikingly beautiful figures before her and couldn't help but praise them. She had thought Na'er's talent was already the strongest in the world, but…

There was someone even more formidable. In fact, compared to Tang Luochuan, Na'er's talent seemed slightly overshadowed.

With both of them possessing such extraordinary gifts, they truly lived up to their sibling status.

"Hmm…"

"Ye Xinglan, what's Na'er's current cultivation level?"

Hearing this, Tang Wulin took the opportunity to ask, his curiosity burning.

He knew Na'er had started cultivating three years late. Yet now, she was a member of Shrek Academy—just how much potential was hidden within her?

Had she somehow compressed three years of cultivation into just half a year?

"Huh? Na'er?"

"She's already a 31st-ranked Soul Venerable."

Ye Xinglan answered without hesitation.

Though she found it odd that Tang Wulin, as family, didn't know Na'er's cultivation level, she refrained from asking, assuming he had been occupied with inner academy affairs.

"31st-ranked Soul Venerable…"

Tang Wulin's eyes widened instantly, his words stuck in his throat. His shock was palpable. A Soul Venerable—she was already a Soul Venerable?!

Had it even been a full year since she started cultivating? In such a short time, she had already reached Soul Venerable?

And then there was him, still struggling to break through the bottleneck of Grand Soul Master. The gap was just too vast.

Was Na'er even human?

"A Soul Venerable younger than the boss!"

Xie Xie and the others were practically buzzing with excitement. Who would've thought that aside from the boss and Gu Yue, there was someone else who could become a Soul Venerable at such a young age?

Truly the sister of a genius—an absolute prodigy in her own right. Like brother, like sister.

"Wait, Wu Lin…"

Xie Xie suddenly thought of something, his gaze silently shifting to Wu Lin beside him, his mind filled with contemplation.

This way, Wu Lin seemed a bit... out of place in the family.

"Truly worthy of being the boss's sister."

"Na'er is just too amazing."

Xie Xie withdrew his thoughts, unable to help but sigh in admiration.

"Not at all."

Hearing this, Na'er humbly shook her head.

"Oh, but it's not 'not at all.'"

"Our Na'er is truly wonderful."

Tang Luochuan looked at the girl before him, shaking his head with a smile. If this wasn't wonderful, then who in the world would dare call themselves outstanding?

"Brother Luo Chuan..."

A glimmer of starlight flashed in Na'er's eyes, her face flushing red. Whatever Brother Luo Chuan said, she would listen!

For a moment, she obediently responded, leaning closer to Tang Luochuan.

"Na'er only hopes..."

"To stay close by your side."

Na'er gently leaned against him, her heart whispering these thoughts.

"Luo Chuan's sister!"

"She's such an incredible girl, and..."

"So adorable."

Nearby, Mu Xi's gaze also lingered on Na'er. No one could resist such a cute girl.

She didn't care about titles like "sect leader" or "disciple." All she knew was that this little girl was utterly lovable at first sight.

Her talent was truly remarkable—at such a young age, she already had cultivation comparable to Luo Chuan's... almost catching up to her!

"But..."

"Why didn't Luo Chuan introduce me to his sister before?"

Mu Xi's eyes held a trace of contemplation. Why hadn't he ever mentioned having such an adorable sister before?

Keeping it from her, huh!

"Ah..."

"No, no."

Hearing Mu Xi's praise, Na'er's face instantly turned red, and she hid behind Tang Luochuan, deeply embarrassed.

"Na'er really is adorable."

"Na'er, this is Sister Mu Xi, a talented Forging Master."

Tang Luochuan chuckled softly, gently holding Na'er's hand as he explained. This scene, however, made a certain Silver Dragon King grit her teeth in frustration, her emotions growing even more displeased.

"Hello, Sister Mu Xi."

Na'er smiled sweetly, greeting her with a lively voice.

"Hello to you too, Na'er."

"But don't listen to your brother's nonsense. I'm no Forging Master genius. Without his help, I wouldn't have reached my current level."

"He just loves to exaggerate."

Mu Xi said with a laugh, her gaze lingering on Tang Luochuan as she playfully chided him.

Of course, her eyes held more gratitude than anything else.

She was now a top-tier Level 3 Forging Master, just one step away from Level 4. She felt she could break through any day now.

All of this was thanks to Luo Chuan.

"Brother Luo Chuan is indeed amazing..."

"But Sister Mu Xi must be outstanding too."

Na'er blinked, offering a faint smile.

"Ah~ how can you be so sweet?"

"So you're a Forging Master too..."

Nearby, Ye Xinglan listened to the conversation, a thoughtful expression on her face. She never expected Tang Luochuan to have studied forging as well.

But soon, she also seemed to realize something.

For geniuses, learning a second profession early was perfectly normal. Like her, who was studying to be a Mecha Manufacturer, she was already a Level 3 Master.

This wasn't particularly shocking, after all, Tang Luochuan was no ordinary person.

"Tang Luochuan."

"What are your plans for this afternoon?"

Ye Xinglan asked curiously.

"This afternoon?"

"I plan to..."

A smile played on Tang Luochuan's lips as his gaze drifted toward the girl beside him, his intentions already clear.

"Luo Chuan."

"I'm not feeling well. I'm going out for a walk."

Watching the scene before her—the girl clinging tightly to Tang Luochuan's side—Gu Yue finally couldn't hold back any longer.

After giving Na'er a deep look, she turned her gaze toward Tang Luochuan, her tone calm.

"Hmm?"

Without waiting for his response, she had already walked away. Na'er watched the scene unfold, her eyes filled with contemplation.

"Is Gu Yue unhappy... because of Na'er's sudden appearance?"

Tang Luochuan wore a thoughtful expression. They were like sisters—why such urgency to compete?

"Luo Chuan Gege..."

At that moment, Na'er's face broke into a faint smile.

Just as he thought she might go after Gu Yue, she instead looked at him expectantly.

"Will you take me out this afternoon?"

"Hmm?"

Tang Luochuan paused, then nodded indulgently.

"Of course."

"Hehe."

Na'er's face lit up with joy.

"..."

Around the corner, Gu Yue nearly stumbled as she overheard their conversation. So, they had already made plans to go out together.

"Di Tian, come out."

"My Lady."

Once she reached a secluded spot, a black-clad figure materialized at her call—none other than Di Tian, who had been assigned to protect Na'er.

"Why is Na'er here?"

Gu Yue fixed her cold gaze on him.

"My Lady."

"Miss Na'er wished to come, and I saw no issue with it, so I brought her along..."

Di Tian knelt respectfully on one knee, speaking plainly.

"No issue..."

Gu Yue's expression grew colder by the second.

No issue? This was far from no issue!

"..."

That night.

In the hotel room.

"Gu Yue Jie."

"Did you want to talk to me about something?"

Seeing the other girl enter her room, Na'er smiled softly and asked in a gentle voice.

That afternoon, she had finally gotten to spend time with her brother again, and her heart was full of joy. She felt refreshed, as if nothing could bring her down.

"Na'er."

"You shouldn't be here."

Gu Yue's gaze settled on her, her expression anything but calm as she spoke slowly.

"Na'er, I told you to focus on your training at Shrek Academy. Why did you come here?"

She had made it clear—this wasn't the time for them to meet. Na'er was supposed to be dedicating herself to cultivation.

So why had she come anyway? Especially after promising otherwise, arriving here without a word.

"Gu Yue Jie."

"I really missed Luo Chuan Gege."

Na'er blinked and shook her head lightly.

At Shrek Academy, her teachers had indeed treated her like their own, showering her with care. But compared to the person in her heart, none of it mattered.

To her, Luo Chuan Gege was different.

"Miss him..."

Gu Yue's face betrayed no emotion, but her eyes flickered with uncertainty.

She knew Na'er would miss Luo Chuan, just as the other girl had once mentioned over the phone. Yet, in her heart, she simply didn't want Na'er to appear here—a strange, inexplicable emotion.

When it came to other girls, even if she felt displeased, her reaction wouldn't be so strong.

Because she knew that only she—only herself as the Silver Dragon King—was truly suited for Luo Chuan. But Na'er was clearly different from the others.

"I know you sent me to train at Shrek Academy because you were afraid I'd fall too far behind Luo Chuan Gege in cultivation and be left in the dust. I agree with that, but…"

"I'd rather have the chance to see him. Like this time—since the Shrek Academy delegation is coming, it wouldn't be strange for me to be here as a member of the academy, would it?"

Na'er spoke calmly, word by word.

"What do you think, Gu Yue-jie?"

"..."

"It's not strange."

Gu Yue's expression shifted slightly, but she still nodded. There was nothing wrong with Na'er's reasoning, but…

She was about to say something when Na'er spoke first.

"Sometimes, I envy you so much."

"I was the one who came first, yet it's always been Gu Yue-jie staying by Luo Chuan Gege's side."

A trace of loneliness colored Na'er's face as she murmured softly.

If possible…

She…

Wanted to be the one who stayed by Brother's side all along.

(End of Chapter)